| The vast majority of bicycle accidents are | | | | it contributes to an accident, regardless of who is |
| low-speed, single participant accidents, and these | | | | injured. And be forewarned that a cyclist riding under |
| rarely produce more than just a scratch or scrape. | | | | the influence of drugs or alcohol can be stopped and |
| However, some accidents can include multiple riders, | | | | arrested for a DUI, and can lose his or her driver's |
| high speed, cyclists and pedestrians, or even bicycle | | | | license! |
| versus motor vehicle. These accidents have a great | | | | In order to establish sources for compensation, |
| potential to be dangerous, and certain safety | | | | attorney's need to investigate each case thoroughly |
| measures should be taken to reduce the risk of | | | | to determine the cause of the bike crash and liability |
| serious injuries while cycling. | | | | for injury, by examining details such as:oDid a car, |
| Bicycle accidents are a harsh reality given that every | | | | truck or bus driver make a left turn in front of the |
| six hours a bicyclist is fatally injured in the United | | | | bicycle rider or merge into path of the bicyclist?oDid |
| States. | | | | a car overtake the bike and not allow space to |
| Since cars and bicycles often share the road, | | | | safely pass, causing the rider to fall off the bike?oDid |
| negligent drivers heavily contribute to the number of | | | | the driver of the car fail to yield the right of way to |
| bike accidents in America. One of the largest causes | | | | the bicyclist?oDid an auto or truck cause the bicycle |
| of bicycle accidents is inattentive drivers who are not | | | | accident by entering the roadway from a |
| looking out for bicyclists. Another cause of bicycle | | | | driveway?oHow fast was the car going when it |
| accidents is obstacles left in riding areas by careless | | | | caused the bicycle accident?oWas the motorist |
| property owners, business owners, or property | | | | driving while intoxicated when he or she hit the bike |
| managers.Unlike motor vehicles, however, bikes are | | | | rider?oWas the accident caused by a premises |
| harder to see on roads, leaving riders susceptible to | | | | defect or poorly maintained sidewalks or property? |
| crashes with negligent drivers. | | | | You need to contact an experienced bicycle accident |
| Nearly seventy-fivepercent of all serious injuries and | | | | lawyer to discuss your options for recovering the |
| deaths from bicycle accidents include headinjuries.If | | | | maximum available compensation after a serious |
| you suffered a bike crash injury, you may wonder | | | | injury head injury, bone fracture, skin abrasion, spinal |
| what right you have to collect compensation from | | | | cord injury resulting from a hit and run car - bicycle |
| the motorist, truck driver, or property manager that | | | | crash. |
| caused your bicycle accident.Waiting could hinder your | | | | Information to Gather at the Accident |
| chances of receiving fair compensation for your | | | | Scene.oAlthough you may be injured and |
| injuries. | | | | incapacitated at the accident scene, that is your only |
| In most cities, bicyclists have the same rights as | | | | chance to identify the motorist who hit you and the |
| pedestrians in a crosswalk, on a sidewalk, and in a | | | | witness[s] . After the ambulance takes you away, |
| bike lane.When car or truck drivers are not aware of | | | | you will never get another chance to get a license |
| bicyclists and crash into them, the cyclists need a | | | | plate number, name and address of the driver, or |
| lawyer who will protect their right to file an insurance | | | | witness name or address. It is not uncommon for the |
| claim. | | | | police officers to fail to get this information after the |
| There is very little protection for a rider involved in a | | | | victim has left the scene. Ask someone to write |
| bicycle accident and bicycle injuries can be severe. If | | | | down the tag number and their own information and |
| you have been involved in a bike accident, you should | | | | give it to you, or put it in you pocket.oPreserve |
| contact an experienced bicycle accident attorney. | | | | evidence by taking photos.oDocumenting road |
| The rights and responsibilities of a bicycle rider are in | | | | conditions, recording data concerning construction |
| many ways similar to those of a motorist. Bicycle | | | | sites, and obtaining detailed information regarding |
| riders must observe signs, signals and other traffic | | | | property damage. |
| laws. Most states require lights and/or reflectors for | | | | Well-preserved evidence will ensure the fullest |
| bicyclists riding at night, and failure to observe traffic | | | | compensation available in cases of serious injury or |
| laws could be construed as partial fault by a court if | | | | wrongful death. |